Pulmonary Services

Pulmonary Services at Baptist Hospital of MiamiOur comprehensive pulmonary facility provides an array of testing procedures to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of various pulmonary conditions.All diagnostic tests are conducted by highly skilled Registered Respiratory Therapists and Registered Pulmonary Function Technologists.

Pulmonary Function Testing

Flow Volume Loop (FVL) – this test is used to identify obstructive lung disorders such as emphysema, asthma, small airway diseases or chronic bronchitis. This test can also be used to identify restrictive types of conditions in the lungs such as: pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and neuromuscular disorders.

Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) - is a measurement of the largest volume of air that can be breathed per minute by forced voluntary effort.

Single Breath Diffusion Capacity (DLCO) - this test measures the efficiency of the lungs to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream and remove carbon dioxide and other gasses out of the body.

Lung Volumes (FRC) – this test measures the total capacity of air the lungs can hold, even the amount of air that remains in the lungs after all air has been exhaled.

Thoracic Gas Volume (TGV) and Airway Resistance (RAW) - these tests are performed in a highly sensitive airtight cubicle called a body plethsymograph or “body box”. The cubicle is very similar to an all glass phone booth. There are various pressure sensors in the cubicle that are used to measure the amount of air in the lungs. The test also measures the amount of airway resistance in the lungs.

Pre & Post Bronchodilator Spirometry – this test begins with a Flow Volume Loop being performed, and then the patient is given an aerosol treatment with a bronchodilator such as albuterol. The Flow Volume Loop test is repeated and the two measurements are compared to each other. This comparison will assist the physician in evaluating the effectiveness of a bronchodilator on the patient’s pulmonary condition.

Bronchial Provocation (Methacholine Challenge) – this test is considered the “Gold Standard” for diagnosing patients with asthma or airway hypersensitivity. The patient is given a precise, miniscule amount of a drug that will trigger an asthmatic response if the patient has asthma. The drug concentration is increased in precise increments during each stage of the test. Following each administration of the drug a Flow Volume Loop measurement is taken which will reveal the probability of an asthmatic response. This test is only performed by the highest trained respiratory professionals and with the utmost attention to safety.

Arterial Blood Gases (ABG) - this test requires a small sample of blood to be drawn from the radial artery which is located near the wrist. This test is a little different because instead of drawing blood from the vein, it is drawn from the artery. The test is used to measure the amount of oxygen in the body and the amount of carbon dioxide. Oxygen is the primary source of food for all the cells in our body and carbon dioxide is what is produced in the body when oxygen is used by the cells. The test also measures the acidity or alkalinity (acid – base) balance of the body which is extremely important. There are a range of measurements that accompany the blood gas test that measure various other important gasses in the body.

High Altitude Simulation Test (HAST) – This test is recommended for patients that suffer from chronic lung disease and are planning on traveling via commercial air. H.A.S.T. is the simplest, safest method for determining the need for supplemental oxygen under these conditions. By administering a specially prepared mixture of nitrogen and oxygen to the patient, the test simulates the conditions of a pressurized airplane cabin equivalent to 8,000 feet. The patient’s vital signs and oxygen saturation are closely monitored and supplemental oxygen is administered to correct any oxygen desaturations.

6 Minute Walk (6MWT) - This test is indicated for patients that have recently undergone some type of medical intervention related to either a cardiac or pulmonary disease. This diagnostic procedure will assist the physician in evaluating the patient’s functional status, response to exercise, and the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living. The test is performed by having the patient walk a designated and measured course for a period of six minutes. The distance the patient was able to walk in a six minute period is recorded along with various vital signs such as; heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and level of fatigue or exertion.